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Rating depth structure for brown bullhead.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
66-acre lake near Nevada County. The lake tops out around 21 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Traced from the shoreline, Blue Lake runs 66 acres with 1.3 miles of edge. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.1) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. Roughly 68% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 0.4 mi end to end and 0.4 mi across at its widest. You'll find it in Nevada County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Rucker Lake, 1 mi west of here.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brown bullhead in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 12 ft before dropping to 6 to 21 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for brown bullhead in winter. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft | midday | Deep basin (18 ft) |
Count 4 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 18 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for California waters are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Blue Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
Blue Lake is about 21 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target brown bullhead on Blue Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for brown bullhead in winter. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For brown bullhead, the summer bite is best in after dark and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Blue Lake is regulated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official California regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Rucker Lake 1 mi · Feely Lake 3 mi · Carr Lake 3 mi · Snowflower 4 mi · Lindsey Lakes 4 mi · Culbertson Lake 4 mi · Lower Rock Lake 5 mi · Faucherie Lake 6 mi · Sawmill Lake 6 mi · French Lake 7 mi · Weaver Lake 8 mi · Lake Sterling 8 mi
See how Blue Lake stacks up: best brown bullhead lakes in California
More water nearby: Nevada County fishing maps (15 charts). Browse all California fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.